Types of Hauntings

In order for you the reader to get a better understanding of this website and the realm of the supernatural, it is necessary to explain the diffferent types of haunting phenomenon.When it comes to ghosts and spiritual phenomenon, no two hauntings are the same. The following headings will shed some light on the different types of hauntings.

Residual Haunting

In many incidences of spirit encounters, people have reported seeing the ghost or ghosts who do not interact with living people or with the environment around them. They seem to be oblivious of the startled people who happen upon them, and may even walk through solid objects. Also, these ghosts will perform the same actions every time they are seen, and may even only show up at certain times of the day, the month, or even the year.

This is a classic example of a residual haunting. Paranormal investigators believe that this type of haunting is not a true spirit, but rather the residual echo of actions which take place in that particular location. Most often, these actions involved a lot of emotional energy being released at one time; usually around or at the point of someone's death. Residual hauntings can often be found on old battlefields, old homes, and other historic locations.

Since this type of haunting is not intelligent (i.e., it will not try to talk to you or rattle doors or chains) they are generally the easiest to cope with.

True Spirit

The second type of haunting is a sentient specter, or a spirit. Unlike a residual haunting, a true spirit can (and usually will) interact with its environment. This means that it may talk to a living person as well as even leave written messages and move small items around. More will be said about the moving of physical objects in the next section.

The behavior of an ghost varies greatly, much like people in general. Some spirits are elusive and may never be seen by many who work or dwell in a haunted location. Other spirits may seek the attention of the living by appearing to people. Spirits can also make their presence known invisibly; some people can actually sense them. Ever been up late at night studying and felt like someone was looking over your shoulder, just to see no one there when you turn to look?

Some spirits can also be helpful. There have been reports from different locations around the world of ghosts that will clean up a house or an apartment while the people are away at work! Ghosts have been known to have an attachment to a place, an object, or even a person.

Poltergeist

Of all of the types of hauntings, the poltergeist is perhaps the most ambiguous. Poltergeists, or "noisy spirits," can move small objects around and make noise. Poltegeists, like ghostly phenomenon in general, have been reported all over the world.

So what makes a poltergeist different from a ghost? Simply put, not all poltergeists are true spirits. In some instances, poltergeist activity may be the result of environmental activity, such as high levels of electromagnetic energy in an area. Some paranormal researchers such as Hans Holzer and Brad Steiger imply that this activity may be the result of psychic projections from one of the people involved.

Demonic

This last type of haunting is the worst by far. It goes by many other names throughout the world: elemental, deva, djinn, and countless other local names. In simplest terms, the universal definition of a demon is a spirit which was never human. Demons can inhabit a structure in numerous ways. It can be attracted there by dark magic rituals, by acts of violence, or by being summoned.

Sometimes, people who play with ouija boards can summon a demon and not even realize it. In February of 2009, a speaker at Le Festival D'Espirits, a paranormal convention held at Shreveport Municipal Auditorium, told how a demon which she communicated with via ouija board passed itself off as the ghost of a pre-teenage boy that died (it should be noted that she was not seeking to speak with a demon, but with her deceased grandmother). It was not long after that night that she and her children were terrorized by the demon. It took several exorcisms to rid her house of the evil.

Now that you have a general understanding of the types of hauntings, please look at the rest of our site.